Minnow trap



July s, 1952 w. R, MANN 2,602,261

MINNOW TRAP Filed May 6, 1949 Inventor WALTER l?. ANN

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Patented 'July 8, 1952 i Y y 4MINNOW TRAI-B I Walter R. Mann,"."APP/licationluy 6, 1949,'seriar1vf; 9130s Si' loiaim. (o1. i3-102) vA 1 #The present invention relates tominnow traps and it vconsists inthecombinations, constructions and arrangements of-parts herein describedand C1aimed l Generally y"there is provided a minnow'trap which is ofgenerally cylindrical construction and which is provided with a narrowedupper end through which an opening is provided for the entrance ofminnows. The Walls of the device are formed of screening material and anovel frame and bracing means is also provided. In the lower end of thedevice there is mounted centrally a bait holder likewise having itswalls formed of screening material to prevent the minnows from feedingupon the bait. The lower end of the device is provided with novelanchors whereby the same may be firmly attached to the bottom of astream or other body of water.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device of thecharacter set forth which is simple in construction and inexpensive tomanufacture.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a device of thecharacter set forth, of novel means for anchoring the same to the bed ofa stream or the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel baitenclosure forming a part of the invention.

Afurther object of the invention is the provision of a novel wallstructure for a device of the character set forth.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification taken in conjunction with thedrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a view partly in section taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2,rk

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view disclosing certaindetails of construction, and

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 of Figure 5, showing only thebait holder.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein aminnow trap having a bottom wall I0 of screen material, a main bodylikewise of screen material and anrupwardly and inwardly extending topportion I2 likewise formed of screen material. A door 33a is provided toafford access to the interior of the trap.

The bottom I0 and the lower edge of the body ||f are-affixed'to a-bottomring-I3 and rings |4, l5` and I6 are spaced lupwardly from the bottom'ring |3 uponthe outer side of the body The relatively smallerring f| 1is mounted at the upper extremity offithe tapered portion I2.

Four spacedY vertically extending straps |8 interconnect the ring |1with the bottom ring I3 and are aixed by means of rivets I9 or the likeat all their points of juncture with the rings I4, I5 and I6 as wellasto the body of screening material.

A spider 20 is mounted within the ring |1 and includes a centrallydisposed hub or collar 2| in which is threaded an elongated rod 22 whichextends from a point upwardly of the ring |1 and thence verticallydownwardly through the center of the bottom I0 to form a threaded lowerterminus 23. A plate 24 is welded to the rod 22 adjacent its lower endand is adapted to bear against the upper side of the bottom I0.

A flanged coupling 25 is threadably connected to the terminus 23 and hasthreadably connected to the bottom thereof a downwardly extending spike26.

The bottom ring I3 is provided with a pair of outwardly extending eyes21 and the ring |4 is likewise provided with a pair of outwardlyextending eyes 28 which lie immediately above the eyes 21 and an anchormember 29 extends downwardly through each of the eyes 28 and 21 and eachanchor member is provided at its upper end with an integrally formedoutwardly extending handle 30.

Centrally disposed upon the plate 24 and surrounding the rod 22 is abait holder generally referred to by numeral 3| having a body ofscreening material Bla. The said bait holder is provided with fourupwardly and inwardly. extending strap members 32 enclosing same and adoor 33 for loading bait 34 into the interior thereof.

Four brace members 35 interconnect a collar 38 mounted upon the rod 22`Aimmediately above the bait holder 3| and the inner side of the ring I4.A collar 31 is aiiixed to the rod 22 and four brace rods 38 interconnectthe same in spaced relation with the inner side of the ring I6.

In operation, it will be apparent that the device may be easily andquickly submerged in va stream or other body of water by manipulatingthe upper end of the rod 22 to force the same downwardly and thus causethe spike 26 to be imbedded in thebed of the body of water and thatthereafter the anchor members 29 may be forced downwardly through theeyes 28 and 21 by 53 pressing upon the handles 30. Minnows will beattracted by the bait 34 in the bait holder 3| and will enter the upperend of the device through the spider 2| but will be prevented fromactually devouring the bait due to the fact that the same is fullyenclosed within the holder 3|. vThe device may be easily removed fromthe bed of the body of water by pulling upwardly upon the rod 22 andthereafter the spike 26 and coupling 25 may be removed from the lowerend of the rod 22 and the anchors 29' may likewise be removed from theeyes'28v and 21 so that the'device may be stored in a minimum of space.Y

While but one form of the invention has beenshown and described herein,it will be readily I apparent to those skilled in the art that manyminor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of thev4invention or. the.

4 plate aflixed to said rod adjacent the upper face of said bottom, aange coupling threadably connected to the lower end of said rod, avertically dependant spike threadably connected with the coupling, apair of vertically arranged eyes affixed to opposite sides of saidcontainer adjacent -the lower end thereof and an anchor membervertically slidable in each pair of eyes.

WALTER R. MANN.

REFERENCES# C'rE The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number w Name 1 Date 836,555. Birnie Nov. 20, 1906962,148 Jackson June 21,1910 1,228,396 Bragman et al June 5, 19171,357,114 Perkins h Oct. 26, 1920 1,357,530'A j A Smith .i g Nov.v 21920 1,464,8Q1f, Beers A Aug. 14,v 1923 1,517,502.' Grisson etal- Dec,2, 1924 1,633,982 Davis June28, 1927

